Pitt hires 49ers assistant Engram

The 49ers’ coaching staff will be altered, at least slightly, in 2012.

The University of Pittsburgh announced today it has hired San Francisco offensive quality control coach Bobby Engram as its wide receivers coach. Engram, 39, will join the staff of first-year Pitt head coach Paul Chryst, the brother of Niners quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Engram’s impending hire was reported two weeks ago, but an official announcement was delayed until San Francisco was eliminated from the playoffs.

“Bobby Engram is an outstanding addition to our staff,” Chryst said in a statement. “I’m really excited that our players will have the opportunity to learn and benefit from Bobby’s tremendous experience and knowledge of the game. He will be a great teacher on the field and make an even greater impact on our players off the field.”

Engram was in his first year as a coach this past season after a 14-year NFL career as a wide receiver with the Bears, Seahawks and Chiefs that ended in 2009. He will return to the state where he starred in college. Engram was a three-time All-American at Penn State and is the school’s career leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

So far, the 49ers have retained the top assistants on their staff. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman turned down an offer to become Tulane’s coach during this past season and was also a candidate at Penn State, which hired Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. Special teams coordinator/assistant head coach Brad Seely reportedly interviewed with the Colts this week. Indianapolis hired Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano on Wednesday.

The final NFL head-coaching vacancy was filled Thursday when Tampa Bay hired Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. Roman has not been connected to the Rutgers job, but he is a New Jersey native who has recently attracted plenty of interest in the college ranks. Roman has been a candidate for head-coaching openings at Stanford, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Penn State and Tulane since the end of the 2010 college regular season.